Amazon Offers Up $5 Appstore Credit to Users Who Were Charged for SeekDroid

On Monday, we noticed that Amazon was offering up SeekDroid, a lost device locator, for free alongside whatever the app of the day happened to be and wanted to make sure you all had a chance to pick it up. Unfortunately, the minute we posted it, Amazon’s site started to have some issues and while it was showing the app for free on the main Appstore page, it was charging people $.99 at the actual product page. The troubles were worked out after an hour or two, but some damage had been done and a number of you did not receive the app for free.

Well, guess what? Amazon last night, started sending out the email you are seeing below to each user that was charged during that time. What’s included? Oh, a solid $5 credit to use towards future Appstore purchases. Not a bad gesture, I’d say.

Hello,

We’re contacting you about order for “SeekDroid.” We recently learned that some customers were charged $0.99 during a period we intended to make this App available for free. As a result, we’ve applied a $5.00 promotional credit to your account that can be used on any App available in the Amazon Appstore.

Your promotional credit will automatically apply to your next Amazon Appstore order and will not expire until 11:59 PM Pacific Time on March 31, 2013.

The promotional credit may be redeemed only for the purchase of apps then available from the Amazon Appstore for Android. The promotional credit is non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, and may not be combined with other credits or special offers.

We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Sincerely,
Customer Service
Amazon.com

Everyone that purchase the app get one of these emails? Props to Amazon.

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I emailed Amazon after being charged and they refunded me for the app. I then went and purchased it on the Android Market. Yesterday I got the email from Amazon about the $5 promotional credit. Thanks Amazon.

Anonymous

I bought it the next day for $.99. The Amazon app store people have been very nice and understanding about granting refunds for apps I did not intend to purchase or when the app did not refresh to show the price change. Good to know they are looking out for their customers.

trumpet444

my payment for seekdroid didnt even go through (i have a very old card on my amazon acct.) but I still got the $5 credit

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This is another reason that Amazon receives 90% of my retail purchases

Anonymous

Same here. Love Amazon.

Anonymous

I was never e-mailed about this. I even sent them an e-mail and they told me that I would be refunded the $.99 but didn’t mention any $5 appstore credit. At well…I’ll buy my apps via the Android Market and just use the Amazon Appstore for free apps of the day.

EDIT: Sorry about that…was quick to comment, but didn’t realize that they’re just now starting to send out those e-mails. It’s early, so sue me! (Wait, don’t…I have no money to give if you win!) Hopefully I’ll receive an e-mail soon for $5 appstore credit.

Alexa White

Downloaded the “free” app, the download screen even listed it as free. Not 2 minutes later I got the email receipt saying I paid 99 cents for it. Got Amazon cust. service on chat right away and asked for my money back. I got my 99 cents back and a $5 credit. Not bad service at all!

Anonymous

That’s what I should have done, chat with ’em via their handy dandy chat feature, instead of sending them an e-mail.

Ah well…it was only $.99 for a super cool app and I’ll be refunded anyways, it’s all good!

Anonymous

I’m never going to buy anything in the Amazon app store, I want real money back. Or at least $5 credit in the actual Amazon store.

T Hall

Seriously? You’re that upset over them offering a credit?

Anonymous

I’m not ever going to use it, to me they just stole my dollar. The only
thing the app store is good for is the free app of the day.

T Hall

Yeah you are right. That is terrible that Amazon gave you money to support a developer. I really hope you can afford that Top Ramen tonight for dinner.

Anonymous

They didn’t give me money, they gave me credits that I can only use in a
place I don’t want anything. I only support the official android market.

caseyisajim

Are you absolutely certain that in a similar situation, the official android market would immediately give 5 real dollars back in mass quantity? Or even a dollar? They might do something similar.

RW-1

He’s a Troll, pay no attention and move on…

Anonymous

here’s an idea:

write them an email requesting that they refund your CC the $0.99

it’s that simple. They’ve done it twice for me since they started.

Alexa White

Why don’t you ask for a refund? I asked for a refund from the SeekDroid mispricing issue, and they refunded my 99 cents.

Anonymous

Do I smell a troll? Do I? I smell something and it ain’t perfume from a fine woman…it’s coming from a troll who lives in a swamp. I’m outta here!

I was hoping that the Pzizz app was over on Amazon so I could use the credit on that, but it isn’t on the Amazon Appstore yet.

Anonymous

Hello,

We’re contacting you about order for “SeekDroid.” We recently learned
that some customers were charged $0.99 during a period we intended to
make this App available for free. As a result, we’ve applied a $5.00
promotional credit to your account that can be used on any App available
in the Amazon Appstore.

Your promotional credit will automatically apply to your next Amazon
Appstore order and will not expire until 11:59 PM Pacific Time on March
31, 2013.

The promotional credit may be redeemed only for the purchase of apps
then available from the Amazon Appstore for Android. The promotional
credit is non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, and may not be
combined with other credits or special offers.

We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Sincerely,

Customer Service

Amazon.com

Tito

Here’s a little tip for you guys. When you setup your Amazon CC just use the wrong Name and Expiration date. This way you can still use your Amazon account and you’ll avoid problems with accidentally paying for things. I don’t normally buy anything from the app store and its pretty easy to update the information when you want to make a purchase. I have mine set this way and I tried to buy something to test it and it will decline the transaction.

Anonymous

orrr you could actually support developers.
it’s just a few bucks, stop being such a cheapass

RW-1

I’ve had my Amazon account with valid CC on file for Y E A R S …. Never had an issue…

Your tip is pointless, if you buy something by mistake, you have ways to rectify.

Tito

How is the tip pointless?????????? On major gripe when the Amazon market opened is that they required you to have a valid card on file and one click enabled. It is a lot easier to do this than to go through the hassle of opening dialog with Amazon. Ive had my Amazon account open for years with a valid card on file. No problems either. How long has the market been opened?? Just a few months. I’m specifically addressing the issues some people have with one click on the app store.

Blah

Or, you get burned like I did today – and the time between when you click to purchase the app, and the order is processed, the price changes.

There are no refunds for app store purchases (check the TOS) so rectifying the mistake is actually very very painful and involves contacting amazon several times and hoping someone will actually believe you.